hoffman



(No Model.)

. J. HOFFMAN.

LEADV AND CRAYON HOLDER.

/lV VE N T05' Wag@ N. versus. mnvumogmphur. wwnngnm me UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE. c

JOsEFH HOFFMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AssieNoR To JOSEPH `VREOKEN- DOEFEE, OF SAME PLAGE.

LEAD AND CRAYON HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of LettersPatent No. 261,457, dated July 18, 1882,

A Application filed March 29, 1882. (No model.)`

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known' that I, J osEPH HOFFMAN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lead and Crayon Holders, of which the following is a full, clear, and 'exact specication.

Myinvention relates to that class ofpencils or lead and crayon holders in which a leadcarrier movable within the sheath is adapted to be advanced step by step -hya pawl-andratchet movement; Y

The pencil illustrated in the drawings,to be hereinafter referred to, is one in which the carrier can be both advanced and retracted step by step bya reversible pawl-and-ratchet movement. Both of the features above named have, however, been made the subject of another-application in' my name for Letters Patent, filed March 22, 1882, and they are nothere broadly claimed.

My present improvements are directed to means for retaining the lead-carrier in the position to which it has been brought by pawl and-ratchet device, while the ratchettube moves back or forward, as the ease may be, into a position to again act on the carrierpawl. It is also directed to means whereby,it`

' desired, the lead-carrier, after having been adwith a. tapering tip or nozzle, a, which, it' de-' sired, can be made removable.

Within the case is the longitudinally-movable ratchet-tube B, which is slotted longitudinally, and is provided upon the edges bounding the slot with rows of ratchet-teeth b c, the former, b, inclined to the front, the latter, c, inclined to the rear.

Yvents the tube from being retracted too far by the spring.

' Suitable means should be provided for preventing the tube from rotating. In the present instancel provide a longitudinal rib or iin, g, on the tube, which passes through a corresponding notch in the ring f.

Under the above-described arrangementit will be seen that the ratchet-tube is capable oflongitudinal reciprocatory movementwithin prescribed limits..

The ratchet-tube contains the lead-carrier D, from which projects outwardly through the ratchet-slot, and also through a smaller slot, h, formed in and lengthwise Ot' the case or sheath A, a pawl-supportconsisting oftwo plates, between which is pivoted, at j, a plate, lc,formed or provided with two spring-pawls, Z L', the one, l, adapted to engage the ratchet b, the other, l', adapted tov engage the ratchet c. The device thus constitutes in eifecta reversible pawl. When the pawl-plate is tilted in one direct-ion Z and b are brought into engagement, and when it is tilted in the opposite direction 'L' and c are caused to engage. Reciprocatory movement of the ratchet-tube will cause the carrier in the former case to advance and in the opposite case to recede.

In order to prevent the carrier from moving with the ratchet-tube when the latter is returning to the requisiteposition to enable it to take a fresh hold On the carrier-pawl, I extend the pawl-supporting plates z' up through the slot h, and cause the plates to fit the slot snugly and with sufficient friction to hold the carrier in place, unless positively acted upon bythe ratchet-tube.

In order toV hold the pawl-plate k in either position to which it may be tilted, I provide on the carrier a stud or protuberance, m, which is adapted to engage one or the other of two depressions, n, formed in pla-te L, accordingas it is tilted to one position or the other. There is sufficient spring in the plate to permit of this arrangement.

By bringing the pawLplate k to an intermediate position (and for this purpose a third depression ma y be provided intermediate between the two depressions u represented in the drawings) it will be so placed as to hold both pawls out of engagement with the ratchettube, and in this case the carrier can be slid back and forth by hand without trouble, pro jecting portion of the pawl-plate or support serving as a handle for the purpose. This feature is of advantage even without two pawls and ratchels. If, for example, but one pawl and ratchet, Z b. be employed, and the other, l c, be dispensed with, in that case the carrier could be. advanced step by step, while by tilting the pawl-plate so as to throw the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet the carrier could be pulled bach by hand, and, indeed, could be advanced in the same way, and then, when adjusted to the proper position, be there retained by tilting the pawl into engagement with the rack. Thus, by means of a pawlshifter operated from the exterior of the sheath, I am enabled, whether the double or single pawl-and-ratchet arrangement is used, to pnt the pawl in a position in which the carrier can be retracted by a continuous sliding movement.

Having described my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination,with the sheath or case and the reciprocatory ratchet-tube, of a leadcarrier provided with a pawl to engage the ratchet of said tube, and also with a stem or radial extension which extends through a longitudinal slot in the case and has frictional Contact therewith in such manner as to act to prevent the carrier from following or partaking of the return movement of the ratchettube, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. In a lead or crayon holder in which the lead-carrier is adapted to be advanced step by step b va pawl-and-ratchet movement, the combination, with the sheath, the reciprooatory ratchet-tube, and the leadcarrier, of a pawl attached thereto and adapted to be moved into and ont of contact with the ratchet-tube, and a pawl-shifter operated from the exterior of the sheath to throw the pawl into and out of' engagement with said ratchet-tube, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbet'ore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of March, 1882.

JOSEPH HOFFMAN.

Witnesses G. S. BRAISTED, J 0E W. SWAINE. 

